The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15

lover; she had forgotten her previous ten
derness toward him; and, now that her
fire and indignation were spent, only .
sense OF numbness and vacancy remained.
All that had gone before seemed not some
thing to be regretted AZ her own act, but
rather as the act Of another Thankful
Blossom, who had been lost that night In
the snow storm; she felt she had become,
within the last twenty-four hours, not
perhaps another won N, but for the drst
time woman.
Yet 1t was singular that she felt moro
confused when, q few moments later, tho
conversation turned upon Maj. Van
Zandt; it was still more singular that she
even felt considerably frightened at that
confusion. Finally she found herself list
ening with alternate irritablity, shame
and curiosity, to praises Of that gentle
man, Of his courage, his devotion and his
personal graces. For one wild moment
Thankful felt like throwing herself on
the breast of Mistress Schuyler, and con-
Tossing her rudeness to the major; but
conviction that Mistress Schuyler would
share that secret with Col. Hamilton,
that Mai. Van Zandt might not like
that revelation, and, oddly enough
associated with this, q feeling Of
unconquerable irritability toward that
handsome and gentle young officer, kept
her mouth closed. Besides" she said
to herself, she ought to know, II he's
such fine gentleman as they say, just
how / was feeling, and that didn't mean
any rudeness to him." and with this un-
answerable feminine logic poor Thankful
To some extent stilled her own honest
little heart.
But not, fear, entirely. The night
was restless one to her; like all impul-
sive natures, the season Of reflection, and
perhaps distrust, came to her upon acts
that were already committed, and when
reason seemed to light the way only to
despair. She saw the folly OF her intru-
sion at the headquarters, as she thought,
only when II was too late to remedy 1t;
she saw the gracelessness and discOurtesy
of her conduct to Maj. Van Zandt, only
when distance and time rendered an
apology weak and Intellectual l think
she cried little to herself, lying in the
strange, gloomy chamber OF the health
fully sleeping Mistress Schuyler, the
sweet security Of whose manifest good
ness and kindness she alternately hated
and envied; and at last, unable to stand
It longer, slipped noiselessly from her bed,
and stood very wretched and disconsOlate
before the window that looked out upon
the slope toward the Whippany river.
The moon on the new fallen, frigid and
untrodden snow shone brightly. Far to
the left 1t glttered on the bayonet OF Q
sentry pacing beside the river bank, and
gave sense of security TO the girl that per
haps strengthened another idea that had
grown up in her mind, Since she could
not sleep, why should she not ramble
about until she couldf She had been
accustomed to roam about the farm In all
weathers and ut all times and seasons.
She recalled to herself the night-a tenn
pestuous one--when she had risen In seri-
GUS concern as to the lying In Of her favor
ite Alderney heifer, and how she had saved
the life of the calf a weakling, dropped
apparently from the clouds In the tempest,
as it lay beside the barn. With this in
her mind she donned her dress again, and,
with Mistress Schuyler's mantle over her
shoulders, noiselessly crept down the mar
row staircase, passed the sleeping servant
on the settee and, opening the rear door,
In another moment was inhaling the crisp
air and tripping down the crisp snow Of
the hillside.
But Mistress Thankful had overlooked
one difference between her own farm and
military encampment She had not
proceeded dozen yards before figure
apparently started out Of the ground be-
meath her, and, leveling bayoneted mus
ket across her path, called Halt"
The hot blood mounted to the girls
cheek at the first imperative command she
had ever received in her life; nevertheless
she halted unconsciously, and without a
word confronted the challenger with her
old audacity.
"Who comes thereP' reiterated the
sentry, still keeping his bayonet level
with her breast.
"Thankful Blossom" she responded
promptly.